Libraries Aren't What They Used To Be

As I sat at a certain library studying this week, it struck me how vast the difference was between the libraries of ye olde day and currently. Perhaps this might not be applicable to all libraries in Singapore. But it annoyed me to no end that particular day.



Remember how libraries used to be so silent that when a person was so unfortunate as to have brought a bag with a velcro opening and had to take something out of that bag, everyone would snap his/her head around to stare vehemently at the poor soul? That little crackling noise would cut through the silence of the library like a blunt knife attempting to open surgery - not smooth at all.

Remember how librarians used to be so on the ball that whenever a person happened to take out his/her phone to check it within the eye and ear-shot of the librarians (the intent to talk on it or not not even very certain), he/she would proceed to get a very stern warning from the Authority of the Library, Guardian of the Silence?

If I had shut my eyes that day, I would scarcely have been able to differentiate my surroundings with that of a kopitiam. Yeah, it was that bad.


A woman was making her affections to her family known very loudly. 


A girl was playing Tap Tap Revenge on her iPhone on speaker mode (the song was Lady Gaga's Telephone). 


A father was shouting across the library looking for his daughter.


A group of teenagers were playing DJ Max on their PSPs at a table opposite mine.



And so on. My memories were in a hazy state, my mind in a half-fog of irritation and political science readings. What happened to the original intention of libraries as a place of silent reading, studying, of concentration? For that moment, I missed it so much.

I noticed that, however, more and more families were appearing in the library. Kids and their parents were having fun running around, playing games, reading books aloud. Friends were bonding (albeit loudly) over games and books. The library was alive! Community itself was spawning there.

How does the state of our libraries now seem to you? A sad or happy state of affairs?